TTC 5 years now...

[midg08]

Hi all, Im new here so where to start...
My DH and I have been trying to conceive for going on 5 years now. The first year we were trying to not try kinda thing. The 2nd year we had some ups and downs and ended up moving in with family to get back on our feet. So I went on BC for about 6-8 months. For the past 2 1/2 years we have actively been ttc. My Dr suggested doing the BBT thing, which didn't work out to well for me because when that alarm goes off I jump out of bed and start my day... oops forgot to take my temp again!
So last year my DH had a sperm analysis done (b/c I have a child from a previous marriage and my ob did the whole check your tubes your okay thing...)
My DH's morphology is horrible by one standard and bad by another lol. He has 3% normal shaped sperm. According to the Strict method 14% is "normal" although this past year the World health organization announced that 4% is the new standard and my ob told me that 1% difference could very well keep us from ever conceiving. However all the rest of my DH's counts were great or above normal... so we keep trying.

I recently purchased a fertility microscope and it is amazing. I don't have to worry about getting out of bed before I test, as long as I remember to do it before I eat or drink anything. So we found out what days I was ovulating and we timed everything very closely. 4 days, 2 days, day of and day after ovulation. But now that I have my cycle written down I am slightly concerned...
I am currently 5dpo and I am spotting. I typically spot anywhere from 2-3 days before AF shows up... and its the type of spotting where I dont need any protection because its all when you wipe.
At 5 dpo if I am spotting does this technically count as the start of a period? If So does this mean that I am suffering from a short luteal phase? Even if I start my period in 3 days thats still a super short Luteal phase...
Maybe this is more the reason we aren't getting pregnant? There have been times in the past where I "knew" I was pg and then af showed her ugly face. I have had symptoms and even the omg what is that smell im gonna puke!
I know this is a long message and i've never used forums before so Im sorry it is soooooo long ladies. Im just super concerned about this now. Currently at 5dpo I have had some headaches (which isn't uncommon for me on any given day and they def. weren't migraines), super hungry, spider veins on chest (I am a redhead so the fact that I notice them isn't really much either), mild cramping and frequent urination (although you tend to notice how much you really pee when you are ttc each month). I feel bubbly but I think its more the whole omg I know we hit it right on the head for "O" so just maybe this 5 yr wait is over. But I don't really know that I feel PG. Mind you my son will b 8 this year and I don't really remember what it was like feeling pg.


Thanks for reading everyone.

 

[Jennifer01]

I hope it is implantation bleeding, but like you I have been ttc around 4.5 years (if you include around 2 years ntnp) so I'm not one to ask lol. I know stress has done funked up things to my cycles in the past-caused spotting and delayed ovulation. Wait and see what happens, and try not to look into symptoms too much, symptom spotting is a killer! Good luck, sorry I'm not more helpful!

 

[midg08]

Yea the symptom spotting is hard not to do... I think every woman who is TTC does it. My main concern now is the questionable luteal phase. I know i can get otc progesterone cream to help with the luteal phase or my dr could consider clomid which could be a positive idea for us. My Dh and I cant do IVF because we don't have insurance that will cover any of that. Pregnancy of course... ttc? nope. stupid bleep bleep bleep insurance companies... Lol. We have discussed using donor sperm. I am for it he isn't. He claims b/c I am adopted thats why I am okay with it. I don't think that has much to do with it and he hasn't ruled it out. Currently we are using the "turkey baster method" except with the instead cups to keep it all in place. Anyways. I could go on and on, but I wont. I think I just need a place to vent, to other people who care. (I know DH cares but he doesn't know what to say so I keep it to my self as to not make him feel horrible about how I feel)

 

[Amber3]

Hi there M
Having been ttc for 4,5 years I only regret the times where I just let time pass by without doing anything about it. I also have spotting and what you describe is certainly problematic but if that is your only problem it can easily be fixed. 2-3 days after I ovulate I take progesterone sups (I take it for 10 days and then test) and they stop my spotting very fast. This will be a good idea for you too and you should talk to your doctor about it. Because if it stays like you describe it the egg will have a difficult time even implanting and you may have a miscarriage.
All the best wishes,
Amber

 

[Sophe]

Hi all, Im new here so where to start...
My DH and I have been trying to conceive for going on 5 years now. The first year we were trying to not try kinda thing. The 2nd year we had some ups and downs and ended up moving in with family to get back on our feet. So I went on BC for about 6-8 months. For the past 2 1/2 years we have actively been ttc. My Dr suggested doing the BBT thing, which didn't work out to well for me because when that alarm goes off I jump out of bed and start my day... oops forgot to take my temp again!
So last year my DH had a sperm analysis done (b/c I have a child from a previous marriage and my ob did the whole check your tubes your okay thing...)
My DH's morphology is horrible by one standard and bad by another lol. He has 3% normal shaped sperm. According to the Strict method 14% is "normal" although this past year the World health organization announced that 4% is the new standard and my ob told me that 1% difference could very well keep us from ever conceiving. However all the rest of my DH's counts were great or above normal... so we keep trying.

I recently purchased a fertility microscope and it is amazing. I don't have to worry about getting out of bed before I test, as long as I remember to do it before I eat or drink anything. So we found out what days I was ovulating and we timed everything very closely. 4 days, 2 days, day of and day after ovulation. But now that I have my cycle written down I am slightly concerned...
I am currently 5dpo and I am spotting. I typically spot anywhere from 2-3 days before AF shows up... and its the type of spotting where I dont need any protection because its all when you wipe.
At 5 dpo if I am spotting does this technically count as the start of a period? If So does this mean that I am suffering from a short luteal phase? Even if I start my period in 3 days thats still a super short Luteal phase...
Maybe this is more the reason we aren't getting pregnant? There have been times in the past where I "knew" I was pg and then af showed her ugly face. I have had symptoms and even the omg what is that smell im gonna puke!
I know this is a long message and i've never used forums before so Im sorry it is soooooo long ladies. Im just super concerned about this now. Currently at 5dpo I have had some headaches (which isn't uncommon for me on any given day and they def. weren't migraines), super hungry, spider veins on chest (I am a redhead so the fact that I notice them isn't really much either), mild cramping and frequent urination (although you tend to notice how much you really pee when you are ttc each month). I feel bubbly but I think its more the whole omg I know we hit it right on the head for "O" so just maybe this 5 yr wait is over. But I don't really know that I feel PG. Mind you my son will b 8 this year and I don't really remember what it was like feeling pg.


Thanks for reading everyone.

Our FS told us that my DH's 1 % strict morphology is fine... i don't know why opinions vary so widely on this?

I have an 8-9 day luteal phase, but I am now on clomid and last month had a standard 14 day one!! you could try clomid, it helps you to produce a bigger follicle that will secrete more progesterone and stop you lining depleting too soon ... oh an also tried vitamin b which gave me a longer luteal phase but my toal ccle lenght was 35 days and almost went nuts waiting so long so i personally don't use it anymore but you could give it a go!

 

[midg08]

Amber
There are many days I wish I could do more. Money wise we can afford to have a child, shelling out 10,000 or more to have have IVF done isn't an option for us like so many other couples out there. Its hard knowing that what is the suggested method isn't available to us. I also just recently started this whole charting process because like i said the alarm goes off and I am out of bed like that to shut it off... then an hour later I realize i forgot to take my temp. The microscope is soo much easier because once I wake up I can get up start my day, spit on the slide, take a reading all while getting my son ready for school. So I am just not starting to question my cycle. With my ex husband it took us a year to conceive and he now has 5 kids total so obviously he wasn't the problem for that year. Of course I was coming off of bc and all that nonesense then. Now... almost 5 years of trying and some cycles I know are around 33 days. I thought that was my average untill I saw this month on paper. (this is the first month of charting for me so I don't want to get all excited over one off month either, ya know?) As of today Still no AF however I do have light pink somewhat watery discharge every time I wipe and just enough to wear a super thin panty liner but not much to show on it. If that makes sense. I am putting my money on overnight or in the am for AF to actually start, making it a 29 day cycle BUT 6 dpo. I am thinking about the progesterone cream, have heard lots of good things about it. Need more research first.

 

[midg08]

Sophe This makes my day. I would love to know more about your DH's counts if thats not getting to personal.
We had my ob request the SA for my DH, and then I took the results to my Ob. I haven't ever seen a FS, simply because with out an insurance provider to cover it, I cannot afford their costs. My ob is excellent and even found ways around the HSG that I couldn't have because of my insurance, he managed to make it so that I could have it. After that showed my tubes were open and okay he suggested the SA. Now He isn't a FS so I haven't ever given up hope but its heartbreaking to hear someone trying to be honest with u in a situation like that. I would try clomid and pay the out of pocket expenses if I have to. I really want to explore all other options before going that route. I mentioned to Amber about trying the progesterone cream and I am reading up on that. I may also consider jumping on the soy boat...
Anyways, Im tired and rambling on and on... Thank you for giving me something to smile about with the 1% strict.

 

[Amber3]

Dear M

If it can be any comfort, in my country IVF was offered me for free but we did not do it. IVF is not all that it is said to be. Other options that are less invasive and less expensive are actually better both for your health and fertility. I chose a treatment called NaProTechnology which has quite a lot higher succes rates than IVF. You can look at this link if you are interested, there is a fantastic little short film there: www.fertilitycare.eu/ (NaProTechnology was invented in the States by a fantastic doctor called Thomas Hilgers)
Also you might want to look into Fertilityblend which many people have good succes with.
Also, if you want to go for hormones straight away I would suggest that you try Femara before Clomid, if you can. It is just that Femara is just much healthier and at least as good as Clomid.
Of course all my suggestions here are scientifically sound methods.
I wish you all the best
Amber
PS (about your husband) Eathing a good fertility diet is also very helpful for both male ad female infertility. I talked to a fertility doctor who told me that the diet they promote (which is a hard Low Glychemic Diet) had fantastic results for men with low sperm quality. 6 out of 7 men were able to get their wife pregnant after being on this diet for a while.

 

[Sophe]

Dear M

If it can be any comfort, in my country IVF was offered me for free but we did not do it. IVF is not all that it is said to be. Other options that are less invasive and less expensive are actually better both for your health and fertility. I chose a treatment called NaProTechnology which has quite a lot higher succes rates than IVF. You can look at this link if you are interested, there is a fantastic little short film there: www.fertilitycare.eu/ (NaProTechnology was invented in the States by a fantastic doctor called Thomas Hilgers)
Also you might want to look into Fertilityblend which many people have good succes with.
Also, if you want to go for hormones straight away I would suggest that you try Femara before Clomid, if you can. It is just that Femara is just much healthier and at least as good as Clomid.
Of course all my suggestions here are scientifically sound methods.
I wish you all the best
Amber
PS (about your husband) Eathing a good fertility diet is also very helpful for both male ad female infertility. I talked to a fertility doctor who told me that the diet they promote (which is a hard Low Glychemic Diet) had fantastic results for men with low sperm quality. 6 out of 7 men were able to get their wife pregnant after being on this diet for a while.

thanks for posting the info about the diet its good to know

 

[Sophe]

Sophe This makes my day. I would love to know more about your DH's counts if thats not getting to personal.
We had my ob request the SA for my DH, and then I took the results to my Ob. I haven't ever seen a FS, simply because with out an insurance provider to cover it, I cannot afford their costs. My ob is excellent and even found ways around the HSG that I couldn't have because of my insurance, he managed to make it so that I could have it. After that showed my tubes were open and okay he suggested the SA. Now He isn't a FS so I haven't ever given up hope but its heartbreaking to hear someone trying to be honest with u in a situation like that. I would try clomid and pay the out of pocket expenses if I have to. I really want to explore all other options before going that route. I mentioned to Amber about trying the progesterone cream and I am reading up on that. I may also consider jumping on the soy boat...
Anyways, Im tired and rambling on and on... Thank you for giving me something to smile about with the 1% strict.

I think there is conflicting evidence regarding the morphology issue... there is a thread on this forum under success stories and women have gotten pregnant with the male partner having low morphology, i have seen other ladies on here that haven't been able to, but I don't think the evidence is conclusive enough to say you will not conceive, keep your hopes up and try some supplements to help with his morph...

you sound like you are in the same boat as us, I have low progesterone and DH has low morphology.. in the UK we get to see a FS for free on the NHS if we wait long enough, so i know I am lucky to be in this country and have that option available to me.

oh and here are DH's numbers

32 million
59% motility
1% morphology

we were told if the sperm is not genetically abnormal it can fertilise an egg even if the shape is not 100% perfect.

I have read and heard so many different things its hard to know whats right, but I am not giving up yet!

Good luck ... I will share anything I find out with this forum.. so I will keep you posted after our next appointment, its good for us to know whatothers D's opinions are otherwise we are just in the dark..

 

[midg08]

Amber: I really dont want to have to use any fertility drugs however if it takes clomid or another option like that I would be open to it. I would rather it is all natural.

Sophe: I don't have my Dh's counts handy but if i remember right:
26 million
80% motility
3% morphology

The count may have been higher but i cant remember at the moment.
I do know that like you said a sperm can fertilize an egg even if not 100 percent normal unless genetic disorder. So thats still another reason to smile. Im really thinking that i may have an issue with the short luteal phase which would make sense. going to chart a lot more and pay better attention.